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Catena Aurea #1-4
Catena Aurea
St. Thomas Aquinas' Catena Aurea is the masterpiece anthology of Patristic commentary on the Gospels and includes the work of over eighty Church Fathers.
The text of this edition has been digitally reset to faithfully reproduce that of the 1841 edition of Catena Aurea as published by John Henry Parker, Oxford; and J. G. F. and J. Rivington, London 1841. This edition is bound in leather, has 2,832 pages and each volume is 6" x 8.25"
Imagine a round-table discussion of the Gospels among the supreme theologians of the Church. The Catena Aurea is very close! St. Thomas Aquinas compiled this opus from sermons and commentaries on the Gospels written by the early Church Fathers, arranging their thoughts in such a way that they form a continuous commentary on each Gospel. For each of the four Gospel writers, the Catena Aurea starts by indicating the verses to be analyzed, then taking each verse phrase-by-phrase, provides the early Fathers insights into the passage.
St. Thomas Aquinas' Catena Aurea is a masterpiece anthology of Patristic commentary on the Gospels it includes the work of over eighty Church Fathers.
St. Thomas Aquinas work demonstrates intimate acquaintance with the Church Fathers and is an excellent complement to the more recent attempts to understand the inner meaning of the Sacred Scriptures. For each of the four Gospel writers, the Catena Aurea starts by indicating the verses to be analyzed, then phrase-by-phrase, provides the early Fathers insights into the passage.
The unchanging rule of the Church is that no one [is] to interpret the Sacred Scripture... contrary to the unanimous consent of the Fathers (Vatican I). Just as in our own day there has been renewed interest in the Church Fathers, so in the 13th century, when the Catena Aurea was compiled, the western church was undergoing a similar revival of interest in the ancient patristic authors and the works of many Eastern Fathers were translated from Greek to Latin for the first time. During this period there was increasing hunger for the true and authentic interpretation of Scripture, which the Church Fathers hold the key to.
St. Thomas Aquinas was commissioned to write the Catena Aurea by Pope Urban IV, in order that an orthodox Patristic commentary on the Gospels was readily available to all readers. John Henry Newman, who is widely expected to be canonized next year, was responsible for its translation into English in 1841. Cardinal Newman hoped that the Catena Aurea would become a source of catechesis within the family and the Church. Cardinal Newman s edition of the Catena Aurea is one of the jewels of the 19th century Catholic Restoration, making the scholarship of the Fathers available to a wider audience. As with many 19th century texts it employs a sober, dignified style of English, which is eminently suitable to the unsurpassable mysteries of the Catholic Faith.
The Catena Aurea, compiled by one of the Catholic Church s greatest minds, is of immeasurable use to priests writing homilies, lay people engaged in private or family study or of the Gospels and religious instructors will find it an invaluable help in preparing lessons. It is the perfect companion to study the Scriptures in detail and receive the wisdom of St. Thomas on particular passages.
Consider the Catena Aurea as a discussion of the Gospels among the supreme theologians of the Church. Their exegesis is astonishing! A worthy recommendation for the serious student of the Bible is a copy of the only work that Aquinas was known to carry around with him.
This is the first time in more than 150 years that the English translation of the Catena Aurea has been entirely re-typeset, meaning that the text is crisp, clear and easy to read, unlike many facsimile editions.
The text of this edition has been digitally reset to faithfully reproduce that of the 1841 edition of Catena Aurea as published by John Henry Parker, Oxford; and J. G. F. and J. Rivington, London 1841. This edition is bound in leather, has 2,832 pages and each volume is 6" x 8.25"
Imagine a round-table discussion of the Gospels among the supreme theologians of the Church. The Catena Aurea is very close! St. Thomas Aquinas compiled this opus from sermons and commentaries on the Gospels written by the early Church Fathers, arranging their thoughts in such a way that they form a continuous commentary on each Gospel. For each of the four Gospel writers, the Catena Aurea starts by indicating the verses to be analyzed, then taking each verse phrase-by-phrase, provides the early Fathers insights into the passage.
St. Thomas Aquinas' Catena Aurea is a masterpiece anthology of Patristic commentary on the Gospels it includes the work of over eighty Church Fathers.
St. Thomas Aquinas work demonstrates intimate acquaintance with the Church Fathers and is an excellent complement to the more recent attempts to understand the inner meaning of the Sacred Scriptures. For each of the four Gospel writers, the Catena Aurea starts by indicating the verses to be analyzed, then phrase-by-phrase, provides the early Fathers insights into the passage.
The unchanging rule of the Church is that no one [is] to interpret the Sacred Scripture... contrary to the unanimous consent of the Fathers (Vatican I). Just as in our own day there has been renewed interest in the Church Fathers, so in the 13th century, when the Catena Aurea was compiled, the western church was undergoing a similar revival of interest in the ancient patristic authors and the works of many Eastern Fathers were translated from Greek to Latin for the first time. During this period there was increasing hunger for the true and authentic interpretation of Scripture, which the Church Fathers hold the key to.
St. Thomas Aquinas was commissioned to write the Catena Aurea by Pope Urban IV, in order that an orthodox Patristic commentary on the Gospels was readily available to all readers. John Henry Newman, who is widely expected to be canonized next year, was responsible for its translation into English in 1841. Cardinal Newman hoped that the Catena Aurea would become a source of catechesis within the family and the Church. Cardinal Newman s edition of the Catena Aurea is one of the jewels of the 19th century Catholic Restoration, making the scholarship of the Fathers available to a wider audience. As with many 19th century texts it employs a sober, dignified style of English, which is eminently suitable to the unsurpassable mysteries of the Catholic Faith.
The Catena Aurea, compiled by one of the Catholic Church s greatest minds, is of immeasurable use to priests writing homilies, lay people engaged in private or family study or of the Gospels and religious instructors will find it an invaluable help in preparing lessons. It is the perfect companion to study the Scriptures in detail and receive the wisdom of St. Thomas on particular passages.
Consider the Catena Aurea as a discussion of the Gospels among the supreme theologians of the Church. Their exegesis is astonishing! A worthy recommendation for the serious student of the Bible is a copy of the only work that Aquinas was known to carry around with him.
This is the first time in more than 150 years that the English translation of the Catena Aurea has been entirely re-typeset, meaning that the text is crisp, clear and easy to read, unlike many facsimile editions.
2832 pages, Leather Bound
First published January 1, 1267
418 people are currently reading
514 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Aquinas
2,546 books1,135 followersPhilosophy of Saint Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican friar and theologian of Italy and the most influential thinker of the medieval period, combined doctrine of Aristotle and elements of Neoplatonism, a system that Plotinus and his successors developed and based on that of Plato, within a context of Christian thought; his works include the
Summa contra gentiles
(1259-1264) and the
Summa theologiae
or theologica (1266-1273).
Saint Albertus Magnus taught Saint Thomas Aquinas.
People ably note this priest, sometimes styled of Aquin or Aquino, as a scholastic. The Roman Catholic tradition honors him as a "doctor of the Church."
Aquinas lived at a critical juncture of western culture when the arrival of the Aristotelian corpus in Latin translation reopened the question of the relation between faith and reason, calling into question the modus vivendi that obtained for centuries. This crisis flared just as people founded universities. Thomas after early studies at Montecassino moved to the University of Naples, where he met members of the new Dominican order. At Naples too, Thomas first extended contact with the new learning. He joined the Dominican order and then went north to study with Albertus Magnus, author of a paraphrase of the Aristotelian corpus. Thomas completed his studies at the University of Paris, formed out the monastic schools on the left bank and the cathedral school at Notre Dame. In two stints as a regent master, Thomas defended the mendicant orders and of greater historical importance countered both the interpretations of Averroës of Aristotle and the Franciscan tendency to reject Greek philosophy. The result, a new modus vivendi between faith and philosophy, survived until the rise of the new physics. The Catholic Church over the centuries regularly and consistently reaffirmed the central importance of work of Thomas for understanding its teachings concerning the Christian revelation, and his close textual commentaries on Aristotle represent a cultural resource, now receiving increased recognition.
Saint Albertus Magnus taught Saint Thomas Aquinas.
People ably note this priest, sometimes styled of Aquin or Aquino, as a scholastic. The Roman Catholic tradition honors him as a "doctor of the Church."
Aquinas lived at a critical juncture of western culture when the arrival of the Aristotelian corpus in Latin translation reopened the question of the relation between faith and reason, calling into question the modus vivendi that obtained for centuries. This crisis flared just as people founded universities. Thomas after early studies at Montecassino moved to the University of Naples, where he met members of the new Dominican order. At Naples too, Thomas first extended contact with the new learning. He joined the Dominican order and then went north to study with Albertus Magnus, author of a paraphrase of the Aristotelian corpus. Thomas completed his studies at the University of Paris, formed out the monastic schools on the left bank and the cathedral school at Notre Dame. In two stints as a regent master, Thomas defended the mendicant orders and of greater historical importance countered both the interpretations of Averroës of Aristotle and the Franciscan tendency to reject Greek philosophy. The result, a new modus vivendi between faith and philosophy, survived until the rise of the new physics. The Catholic Church over the centuries regularly and consistently reaffirmed the central importance of work of Thomas for understanding its teachings concerning the Christian revelation, and his close textual commentaries on Aristotle represent a cultural resource, now receiving increased recognition.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 31, 2021
This is a collection of the Commentaries written by different Church Fathers on the Four Gospels. It is an exquisite collection and helps us reflect well on each gospel. St. Thomas Aquinas collected these commentaries and put them together. I found it a little bit difficult with the language, though it is used in English, I need to read it well to understand the reflections well. Commentaries on each gospel are available, and it is arranged in a different structure. One father's text about the gospel cannot be found together; instead, it is kept in a different structure. Once you are used to that style, it is easy to follow. It is a gem of collection to reflect well on the gospels.
January 8, 2021
A book that gives the gems of Church Father's commentary on the Gospel of Luke. This is really a valuable treasure for me. The way the Church Fathers commented and reflected on the Gospel of Luke is very much appreciated. The greatness of the Catholic Church is that we got a lot of treasures to interpret the Scripture. Making use of these texts will enrich our knowledge of the Sacred Scripture. I always see the commentaries of these pages when I prepare for my homilies. Thanks to St. Thomas Aquinas for his valuable work.
January 5, 2014
These are the Fathers of the Church expounding on the meaning of the biblical text. The literal, typological (connecting NT and OT), moral, and anagoglical (the future and end times) senses of the Bible are all present. I've given it only three stars because it is so long and somewhat boring. However I do recommend reading it. There are hidden gems that make it well worth the slog. I made it my book to read for the year and read 5-6 pages each morning. It is available for free here: http://dhspriory.org/thomas/CALuke.htm.
Bede describes: "the virgin beauty of the Church, that is, Mary; the manly company of spiritual doctors, that is, Joseph"
Chrysostum instructs: "when the body becomes softer, the soul must also share the injury; for generally its workings correspond with the conditions of the body."
Theophylact says: "Marvel then at the power of Christ, how His grace works by means of the unworthy and those who are not His disciples: as also men are sanctified through the priests, although the priests be not holy."
Origen: "Now we say that all men have present with them two angels, a bad one who encourages them to wicked deeds, a good one who persuades all that is best."
Bede describes: "the virgin beauty of the Church, that is, Mary; the manly company of spiritual doctors, that is, Joseph"
Chrysostum instructs: "when the body becomes softer, the soul must also share the injury; for generally its workings correspond with the conditions of the body."
Theophylact says: "Marvel then at the power of Christ, how His grace works by means of the unworthy and those who are not His disciples: as also men are sanctified through the priests, although the priests be not holy."
Origen: "Now we say that all men have present with them two angels, a bad one who encourages them to wicked deeds, a good one who persuades all that is best."
May 6, 2017
Previously I have reviewed the individual commentaries on the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Now having finished the commentary on the gospel of John, I can review the entire work... I was very sad to reach the end. Reading a commentary so straightforward, so lacking in cant, so lacking in weasel words and lies, was refreshing and renewing in ways that are hard to describe. You see the world in a different way, after you've spent some time with the Our Lord, with the evangelists, with Augustine, Athanasius, Chrysostom, Damascene, Aquinas, and all the others.
April 20, 2023
The quotes from the Fathers are great, but the translation is a bit antiquated.
October 30, 2024
I haven’t read the entire thing, but it’s indispensable for those moments when you’re reading the Gospels and think “Now what does that mean?”
Aquinas presents the Fathers like they’re having a Roundtable discussion. It almost feels like reading an oral history like Meet Me in the Bathroom or watching a documentary with a panel of experts. Really cool stuff, and I love that the Fathers have different takes on the texts. Always complimentary/true takes, but from different angles, different symbolic readings, different moral takeaways, etc. And as St. John Henry Newman says in the introduction, Aquinas edits the fathers, not to change their meaning, but always to get to the clear core of their meaning.
Basically, this is an awesome and indispensable resource.
Aquinas presents the Fathers like they’re having a Roundtable discussion. It almost feels like reading an oral history like Meet Me in the Bathroom or watching a documentary with a panel of experts. Really cool stuff, and I love that the Fathers have different takes on the texts. Always complimentary/true takes, but from different angles, different symbolic readings, different moral takeaways, etc. And as St. John Henry Newman says in the introduction, Aquinas edits the fathers, not to change their meaning, but always to get to the clear core of their meaning.
Basically, this is an awesome and indispensable resource.
July 2, 2022
this is always and forever the first resource I hit for Sunday lectionary sermon prep every single week. Absolute gold
December 24, 2016
This commentary on the Gospel according to St. Mark is 1/3 the size of the first volume, on St. Matthew; because Mark's Gospel itself is shorter, and also it covers much of the same ground as Matthew. As with the commentary on St. Matthew, it is set forth as a great conversation between the church fathers; they reply to each other, and put forward alternate readings of the same passages. Are you looking for solid commentary on the text itself, by people who take the Gospel seriously? Are you tired of psychologizing, spiritualizing, modernizing commentary? Tired of the spirit of the times? Then come to the Catena Aurea and be refreshed.
March 13, 2017
The introduction says this book depends more on Eastern writers than the volumes on Matthew and Mark. I couldn't tell much of a difference, but then I am reading as a conversation between the commentators and for the subject matter - not for the scholarly details.
St. Luke of course has the most touching details of Our Lord's nativity and infancy, and at least three of the great canticles (the canticle of Zechariah and the Magnificat are said every morning and evening in the traditional daily office, and the canticle of Simeon (the Nunc Dimittis) is said every night).
What a great privilege to live in a time when so many great works are available so easily to so many people.
St. Luke of course has the most touching details of Our Lord's nativity and infancy, and at least three of the great canticles (the canticle of Zechariah and the Magnificat are said every morning and evening in the traditional daily office, and the canticle of Simeon (the Nunc Dimittis) is said every night).
What a great privilege to live in a time when so many great works are available so easily to so many people.
July 15, 2024
I’ve been reading this along with a Bible Study of Mark and it’s been really cool. The early church is much more concerned with things like how the scriptures apply salvation to the gentiles, or what certain numbers or places mean, than a more modern style of reflective reading, but there are some amazing nuggets every so often. I particularly like where all the Fathers unanimously agree that Christ’s Eucharist is not symbolic (:
April 12, 2011
http://www.home.duq.edu/~bonin/thomas...
just bought it-a little easier to use it, then on line, very interesting preface by newman
March 12, 2020
wonderful book
Want to read
April 11, 2024Compilado de comentários de São Tomás aos evangelhos
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2024
Great collection of quotes from the Church Fathers on Biblical passages. These really help open up passages of Scripture for one.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews